London on Watford doing everything necessary to bounce back from failure to meet expectations

Though Virginia quarterback David Watford appears to have redeemed himself after failing to meet some offseason expectations, it remains to be seen if he will or won’t face team-mandated discipline early in the season.

At the end of spring practices, both Watford and U.Va. coach Mike London talked about Watford failing to meet some unspecified expectations in the offseason. London said Monday at the Atlantic Coast Conference Kickoff media event in Greensboro, N.C. that Watford, a junior who graduated from Hampton High, has done everything expected of him to get back in London’s good graces.

“The road to redemption has been a long one, but nonetheless, it’s a road back,” London said. “David has done everything that we’ve asked him to do to get him in a position to move forward. That’s what we’re doing. We’re going to move forward. He’s going to come into camp. Greyson (Lambert) is No. 1 and David is No. 2. (Watford will) compete, but he understands that for all these guys that are on this team that there are certain expectations that can affect other things that happen to you. He’s moved beyond that, and now he’s ready to be a full contributor to the football team.”

London didn’t specifically address whether Watford will face on-field discipline. Watford started all 12 games last season for a U.Va. team that finished 2-10 and lost its last nine consecutive games, but he came out spring practices No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart behind Lambert.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do to this point,” said London in response to a repeated question about team-mandated early-season discipline or a suspension for Watford.

When asked if Watford might be tried at wide receiver in the future, London said every option for Watford is on the table right now.

Lambert, a sophomore, played in seven games last season, completing 33 of 75 passes (44 percent) for 340 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Watford received more votes last season from teammates than any other player in being named to a team leadership council, according to London. At the end of spring practices this year, Watford wasn’t included on the leadership council heading into the summer.

TRYING TO SHED THE EXTRA POUNDS

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer was impressed with what he saw in spring practices from incoming freshman running back Marshawn Williams, but Williams has added some weight this summer that needs to vanish in the preseason, according to Beamer.

Williams, a Phoebus High graduate who enrolled in January and participated in spring practices, made a strong enough impression in spring to get as many reps with the first and second teams as any other back on the roster.

Of course, Tech was without leading returning rusher Trey Edmunds (166 carries for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns last season) in the spring, but Beamer confirmed Monday at the ACC Kickoff event Edmunds is fully recovered from a broken leg and will be 100 percent when practices open Aug. 4.

For Williams to continue building on the momentum he gained in the spring with Edmunds out, and be included in Beamer’s preferred three-back rotation in practices and games, Williams will have to lose some weight.

“We’ll see,” Beamer said. “His weight got up a little bit here this summer, so we’ve got to get that back down. He’s got to do what’s good for him and what’s in the best interests to him and the program, but there’s no question about his talent. I thought he had a good spring practice. It’s just one of those things where he’s a young guy and he’s got to learn to make progress from spring to fall, too.”

Though Williams is listed at 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds on Tech’s official roster, he likely weighs more than that description right now, based on Beamer’s assessment. Williams said during the spring his playing weight was between 227 and 234 pounds.

Prior to spring practices, Williams had to wait nearly a month to be cleared academically by the NCAA to participate in activities with the team. Williams went to classes and worked out on his own at the weight room facilities reserved for the regular student body. He said his weight got near 240 pounds while he waited to be cleared.

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